Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[sabrinak]

Hello,


Please look at this:


"One hundred and fifty years ago many Americans owned slaves. The slaves were black people who were captured in Africa."


Here I think 'were captured' should be 'had been captured' because it happened earlier than 'were black people.'

What do you think? Thank you so much.

[lotus]

Hi Sabrinak,

Either sentence would be ok.

We often say "the slaves were captured."
We also say "the criminals had been captured by the police."

When criminals are captured, it is more an active search and seizure of individuals. Whereas, when slaves are captured, it is more a round-up of people.

It is true that many slaves were actually captured from their escape. And, when they returned, they were put back in captivity.

But the context of the sentence conveys more of the round-up of slaves during that period. So, I think the original sentence sounds more appropriate.


--lotus
_________________
War does not make one great --Yoda

[Lorikeet]

[lotus]

Hi,

A better way to say it might be:

A hundred and fifty years ago, many Americans owned slaves. These slaves were black people who were captured in Africa.

Though this may ring true, it is known that slavery had already existed in Africa at that time.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_in_modern_Africa
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_slave_trade#Source_of_slaves

This does not absolve the United States of its immoral and illegal behavior and standing in history. In fact, if anything, the United States bore even more guilt because it knew and was aware of the human suffering associated with indentured servitude and slavery, yet still participated in the slave trades. It committed even worse crimes by actually killing (lynching) some of its slaves.


--lotus
_________________
War does not make one great --Yoda